Having a dodgy ticker isn’t just limited to people, much to our feline friends’ chagrin they can suffer from heart problems pretty much in the same way.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rather big, mean looking word for a relatively common heart problem in our kitties. Hypertrophic means that the muscle that composes the heart is much larger than what it should be and cardiomyopathy means the problem is in the heart muscle.

It’s not known why the heart walls thicken so dramatically but some breeds like Maine Coon and Ragdoll have mutations in a gene that codes for a cardiac protein. This dysfunction is implicated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, however, a large majority of the cases we don’t know the cause.

It manifests at a mean age of 5 to 7 years with a larger predominance towards male cats.

The clinical signs that should be looked out for are difficulty breathing, not wanting to move much, vomiting, not wanting to eat, fainting (called a syncope) and if it progresses enough there might be sudden death due to heart failure. Discerning owners that also have dogs might know that that the usual cause of doggy heart issues causes cough (because of fluid build-up in the lungs secondary to heart failure) but cats usually do not have cough due to heart problems.

It sounds a bit of a contradiction, if the heart has more muscle it should work better, not worse. While at first, there might be more powerful contractions and better blood ejection to the whole body, the excess muscle soon starts failing. What’s worse is the chamber affected is the left ventricle. This chamber receives a large quantity of oxygenated blood from the left atrium and distributes it towards all tissues and the muscle will occupy a significant portion of it. All problems stem from this lack of chamber volume and the progressive weakening of the muscles because it’s harder for the blood to enter it, so a huge spike in blood pressure in the lungs happens and organs will have insufficient blood supply.

Unfortunately, while it can be managed to an extent it cannot be cured and cats afflicted with this and showing clinical signs have a reduced life expectancy.

Keep an eye on your cat’s tick tacking heart and if you see any of the above, take them in to your vet’s for a check-up. The earlier its diagnosed, the better it can be managed.

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If you are a cat owner you have probably heard of this disease before. The Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that affects cats all over the world.

Our feline companions become infected through close contact, primarily through saliva. The virus is passed among cats that spend a lot of time together, as they share food and water bowls, use the same litter boxes and often groom each other. Kittens can be infected through their mother’s placenta or when she licks and nurses them. Entire male cats allowed to roam are also at a higher risk of becoming infected since these cats often fight and bite each other.

Once a cat is infected, the virus starts replicating in the respiratory epithelium, salivary glands and it can replicate in the bone marrow. The outcome of this disease depends on the age, immune status and genetics of the cats involved as well as the pathogenicity of the virus and virus concentration. In general, young and immunosuppressed cats have a higher probability of developing a progressive infection.

Cats that develop a progressive infection can present several FeLV-related disorders such as anaemia, immunosuppression (cats become more susceptible to secondary infections), immune-mediated diseases, stomatitis, and reproductive, digestive and neurologic problems. This virus is also capable of oncogenesis, which means it can be responsible for the appearance of malignant tumours such as lymphoma, leukemia, and other hematopoietic tumours.

Although this condition can be fatal, with cats succumbing about three years following their diagnosis, other cats can stay healthy for many years. Survival rates are also much higher for single cats, living indoors that receive appropriate veterinary assistance (flea/tick treatment, worming, vaccination, neutering, etc.).

Cats diagnosed with FeLV should be fed a good quality diet (avoid uncooked food and unpasteurized milk due to the risk of bacterial and parasitic infections), visit the vet frequently for check-ups and it is also recommended to keep these cats indoors to avoid further transmission of the virus.

The Feline Leukemia Virus is very fragile, being susceptible to soaps, disinfectants and variations in temperature. It will become inactivated in the environment within minutes and this is why very close contact is necessary for transmission.

The prevalence of this disease has decreased over time, possibly due to more effective control measures and to the increased number of cats being vaccinated. It is important to keep in mind that the vaccine does not guarantee 100% protection against progressive infection, but is has been an important factor in reducing the prevalence of this disease.

Testing for FeLV and applying measures to prevent healthy cats from being exposed to this virus is the most effective way to prevent this infection from spreading. It is recommended for owners to get their cats tested. This infection has very serious health consequences not only for infected cats but also for healthy cats.

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Notoedric mange is a skin problem of cats caused by Notoedres cati, one of the species of mites that causes mange in pets. This problem may affect any cat, regardless of age or gender and, while it’s fairly specific for cats, it might affect dogs and rabbits as well.

It’s a parasite transmitted by directed contact and is especially important in places where several cats are gathered like colonies (both domestic and feral), hotels, veterinary clinics or even multi cat homes. When a cat starts manifesting clinical signs, all other cats in contact will, usually, be affected as well.

Important clinical signs to look out for include:

– Intense itch that does not seem to be related to any season or weather condition;

– Itching that might start out mild but will progress to severe and distressing;

– Skin crusts and lack of fur that start on the ears and then spreads to their face, hands and feet, and eventually with the whole body being affected;

– Incessant scratching and grooming will eventually lead to severe self-trauma.

Due to animals scratching and traumatizing their own skin, this will be fertile breeding ground for skin infections because intact skin is a very important barrier to bacteria. If this condition progresses, treatment for both the mites and the infection that had the opportunity to develop will be required so prompt action will save you and your cat much trouble.

If you notice any of these clinical signs on your cat consult with your veterinary surgeon. The treatment for this mange should be administered on all cats that are in contact with each other and it lasts for several weeks. If the chosen treatment involves dips of insecticides it is very important to ensure the product covers all of their skin, including head and ears otherwise the treatment will most likely fail and these cats will re-infect other cats that might have already recovered. If skin infections have already developed, a course of antibiotics will be required to fully kick away this disease.

The good news is, if all animals are correctly treated symptoms will be significantly reduced within 2 weeks.

It’s important to keep in mind that notoedric mange is a zoonosis, meaning that this mite will infect humans and cause itch and rashes on arms, chest and abdomen of those who have been in closer contact with infected cats. Fortunately, it’s usually solved spontaneously in about 10 days after all animals have been treated.

Be on the lookout for this bothersome problem in our feline friends to catch it early on!

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Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a term used to describe conditions that can affect the lower urinary tract of cats (the bladder and/or the urethra – the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body). The conditions which cause it can vary, but the signs are generally very similar.

Cats with FLUTD typically have difficulties urinating (crying and yowling with pain when urinating) and urinate more times than usual. They may also have blood in their urine and urinate outside the litter box. Affected cats may only be able to pass small amounts of urine or no urine at all. Please keep in mind that cats unable to pass any urine at all should been taken to vet immediately, as this is an emergency!

FLUTD occurs most frequently in middle aged, overweight cats that get little exercise, use an indoor litter box, have restricted access outside and eat a dry diet, but it can occur in any cat.  Stress may also increase the risk of a cat suffering from this condition.

Urinary tract infections, urinary stones and feline idiopathic cystitis are amongst the most common conditions that can affect the bladder and urethra of cats. Feline idiopathic cystitis is a disease which the cause is unknown. It involves inflammation of the bladder and it is thought stress plays a major role in its development.

In some cases, a more severe condition can occur: the development of a blockage in the urethra. This prevents the cat from passing urine and emptying the bladder. This condition occurs most frequently in male cats and if left untreated it can be fatal.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease has different treatment approaches, so if you notice any of these signs on your cat do not hesitate and take your pet to the vet!

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Our feline companions are considered seasonal breeders as their reproductive cycles are directly influenced by daylight hours. They will cycle when there are 12 or more daylight hours and this is why the cat’s breeding season usually goes from February to October.

Female cats can become sexually mature as early as 4 months of age. The female cat’s reproductive cycle has several stages but they can get pregnant during the oestrus stage, the stage where cats come into “heat”. This usually lasts between 7 to 10 days and during this stage, the female cat is receptive to the male cat.

Signs of heat in female cats include a swollen vulva as well as a bloody vulvar discharge, and behaviour signs such as becoming very vocal and affectionate. They will yowl repeatedly and loudly, persistently rub against people or objects and roll on the floor. During this time, a queen will attract male tom cats, since they can detect her scent from several miles away and they will do they best to try to reach her.

Cats are induced ovulators which means they will only ovulate if mating occurs. It is also important for owners to keep in mind that when in heat, females will accept any male, including a related cat. Mating several times will produce more ovulations, which is why it is possible that a litter of kittens has different fathers.

If females are not mated, the oestrus phase will return in about 1 to 3 weeks. They will cycle continuously until they become pregnant or until the daylight period stops being favourable (has less than 12 hours).

Although cats can have their first reproductive cycle and get pregnant very early, a female cat should be fully grown to have her first litter. Otherwise there is a higher chance for complications which can endanger both the mother and her kittens. The gestation period (pregnancy) lasts about 63 days.

If you wish to avoid unwanted pregnancies you can consider spaying your female cat. Talk to your vet so you can know more about what would be the best course of action.

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Can you find the cat hidden on this image?

It’s not easy…

Scroll down to find the answer…

a bit more…

Via: www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/4p517i/when_you_see_it

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Cats may show aggression for different reasons and it’s important to identify them in order to properly manage the problem. Cats may show aggression towards humans out of fear, maybe due to poor socialisation with humans or due to an unpleasant event associated with that person or with people in general. Cats, just like any other animal, can also be aggressive when they are in pain.

General signs of aggressive behaviour include putting the ears back, having the body and tail lowered, having the fur up, dilated pupils (the dark part of a cat’s eyes), growling and attacking either using their claws or using their teeth. If your cat is being aggressive because he or she is scared of a person, your pet may also avoid that person and try to hide. If your cat is scared and he or she is approached or cornered, your pet may feel threatened and attack.

Ongoing exposure to fear inducing situations may worsen the aggression and you may notice stress related signs, such as avoidance behaviour, decreased appetite and over grooming. It’s important to manage this problem and as with all behaviour problems, a vet should check the cat’s health to make sure these issues are not motivated by pain or illness.

After you exclude medical causes, you can try to gradually expose the cat to the person he or she is scared of. Start by keeping them both apart but close enough for the cat to see him or her. When the cat seems comfortable with that and does not show any signs of anxiety or stress the person can move a bit closer. Repeat the process having the person move closer and closer, as your pet becomes accustomed and relaxed in his or her presence. You can reward your cat with a tasty treat as he or she relaxes and doesn’t react fearfully or aggressively around the person in question. You can repeat the process, with the person moving closer each time, and gradually the cat learns to associate this person’s presence with a positive, stress-free experience.

If your cat is showing aggression towards people and if you have any questions at all, do not hesitate and bring your pet to the vet. Your vet can give your pet a check-up to exclude any medical conditions that may be causing this inconvenient situation, and if you are dealing with a behavioural issue, you vet can either help you manage this situation or recommend a cat behaviourist that can help!

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With the temperatures rising the risk of our pets becoming infested by parasites such as ticks and fleas increases tremendously, since these small creatures thrive on warm weather. Fleas can be a real nightmare for pets and for their owners. These parasites will feed on our pet’s blood causing irritation, itching and a lot of discomfort.

The problems caused by fleas go beyond itching since they are also vehicles for the transmission of other parasites such as tapeworms and diseases such as cat scratch disease. Unfortunately, some of our pets can also have the added hassle of being extra sensitive to flea bites and suffer from flea allergy dermatitis.

Flea allergy dermatitis is a hypersensitivity reaction caused by proteins (antigens) present in the flea’s saliva. Cats suffering from this condition show an exaggerated reaction to flea bites that leads to severe itching, over-grooming and even damage to their skin. All cats can be affected regardless of their age or breed.

It takes just one flea to cause severe itching in pets susceptible to flea allergy dermatitis and the best way to prevent this problem is to keep a regular and effective flea treatment plan.

To check your cat for fleas spread your pet’s fur with your fingers, especially on the base of their tale. It is not always possible to see the fleas running around but if you look closely you will probably find their faeces. Look for small black specs located close to the skin.

If you notice your cat is itching more than usual or grooming excessively to the point of damaging fur and skin take your pet to the vet.  These clinical signs can be caused by flea allergy dermatitis but other conditions can present similar signs.

It is also very important to remind owners to never user dog tick/flea treatment products on cats! Many of these products contain substances which are highly toxic for cats and are meant to be used only in dogs. Follow you vet’s recommendation and always check product labels.

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During the summer months, there are many hazards you should be aware of in order to keep your furry feline friend safe.

Just like dogs, cats can suffer heat stroke when exposed to hot temperatures, even if he or she lives indoors. Your cat should always have access to cool water, which should be available at different places throughout the house, particularly in the areas your cat spends more time at. If your cat has outdoors access place water bowls in shady areas to keep the water temperature more comfortable. Don’t forget to frequently check the water level and wash the bowls daily. You can also use cat drinking fountains to induce your cat to drink more water or add ice cubs to the water bowls.

Your cat should have access to shaded areas to stay cool at all times. Make sure there is a cool place in your house your cat can go to.

Do not leave your cat locked in a parked car. Even a few minutes in a car, which can be located in a shaded area with the windows opened, can be deadly for your cat.

Young, older, obese and sick cats are more likely to suffer heat stroke. Signs of heat stroke in cats include restlessness, panting excessively and drooling.

It is also recommended to apply pet sunscreen to your cat’s ears and nose, particularly if he or she is light coloured, as being so makes pets more susceptible to sunburns. Just like what happens with people, sunburns can lead to cancer.

Grass seeds can also be dangerous as they can get caught in your cat’s paws, eyes or ears and need to be removed. Your pet may show signs of discomfort and shake his or her head.

In warmer months there are also more external parasites such as flea and ticks so make sure you use a safe and effective flea/tick control product on your cat. Please remember to never use a flea/tick dog treatment on your cat.

Bee stings are also more common during this time of the year and they can be really dangerous if the cat is allergic, if he or she is stung many times or if he or she is stung near the mouth or in the throat. This could lead to swelling of the airway and restrict breathing. If your cat has been stung by a bee take him or her to the vet!

Keep our tips in mind and enjoy a nice and safe summer with your cat!

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Just like us, cats have two kidneys and their main role is to filter the bloodstream and remove waste products produced by the body’s metabolism. These waste products are eliminated from the body in the urine. The kidneys also help to regulate the volume and composition of the blood.

Kidney disease is one of the most common problems in cats. This condition leads to the accumulation of toxic waste in the bloodstream, making the animal ill and perpetuating the kidney damage. Kidney disease can be acute or chronic. Acute kidney disease is a severe condition with a relatively sudden onset, most often days, in which the kidneys are suddenly unable to function properly, whereas chronic kidney disease is a disease that has been developing over the course of a longer period of time. The most common causes of acute kidney disease are the ingestion of toxic substances, like antifreeze, certain human medications and certain foods.

Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common conditions affecting older cats, from 7 years of age onwards. Two thirds or more of total kidney function must be lost before most cats show signs of disease. It is an ongoing, irreversible process that progresses over time.

Signs of chronic kidney disease include weight loss, poor appetite, lethargy, increased thirst and increased urination. As this disease advances, other signs may appear, such as sores in the mouth and bad breath produced by toxic levels of waste products, as well as vomiting and diarrhoea. If you notice these signs on your cat do not hesitate and take your pet to the vet!

Given prompt treatment acute kidney disease may be reversible. Unfortunately, chronic kidney disease cannot be reversed, but it can be managed, both increasing the quality of life of affected cats and potentially slowing down the progression of the disease.

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